My husband was diagnosed a little over 2 weeks ago with SCC of the tonsil. StageII. His right tonsil was swollen and throat sore for close to 6 months. When he saw the ENT 3 weeks ago, ENT knew what it was and told Bill he would take tonsil out following week and biopsy it. We, of course were worried, but prepared just in case. The following week, tonsil was taken out and the Dr. came back in 1 hour later to give us the news that it was, in fact, cancer (thank God it was in person). He said we would be doing radiation and he would know more after CT scan if there was any other type of treatment we would need. He told us at the time there would be no more surgery needed he felt he got all of it. It was a poorly differentiated carcinoma, with a good prognosis.

The same day of surgery we had CT scan done and saw the radiology oncologist. The RO told us Bill would need to have 7 weeks of radiation, due to the suspicion of possible microscopic lymphnoids affected by the cancer. first 4 weeks once a day, 5 days a week. Last 3 weeks would be twice a day, 5 days a week. We also got the CT scan back and they didn't find any cancer anywhere else.

Fast forward 1 1/2 weeks and Bill started treatment yesterday (thurs). Has had two now.

Everything has happened so quickly. Here is my question and concern. Should we have gotten a second opinion on the treatment plan or is this what we need to be doing? Is it possible for them to have gotten everything in surgery and us not need to have the radiation done or is this normal protocol for stage II SCC cancer of tonsil? The ENT said he got everything and felt confident of that.

I was pretty peaceful about us doing this until the reality hit us and he started the treatments, now I can't help but second guess what we are doing.

Please let me know any thoughts or suggestions of who we should go to to ask more questions of this or if we are headed in the only direction possible.

Thank you, Kathy